Community Safety-"What does it really mean" with Chris Williams

The Community Safety Podcast

Chris Williams is a seasoned professional in community safety, bringing a wealth of experience and expertise to his roles. With a background as a senior advisor for the Home Office and former head of public protection for a London borough, Chris has demonstrated a solid commitment to enhancing public safety.

Recently, he has taken on a new position as the strategic lead for community safety with the Wiltshire Police and Crime Commissioner, where he is expected to leverage his extensive knowledge to contribute to developing and implementing effective community safety strategies.

Chris's diverse background and leadership roles underscore his dedication to creating safer environments and addressing the complexities of public protection.

"I've always had this earliest background and that drives everything that I do is about being evidence LED an intelligence LED. A lot of time and resource is wasted by well-intentioned people doing things 'cause they think it's probably a good idea or they like the sound of it.” - Chris Williams

Today on The Community Safety Podcast:

• Educational Background in Archaeology: Chris studied archaeology at university, and he emphasizes the connection between his archaeological background and community safety. Archaeology, for him, is about decoding the past and understanding human behaviour, which he found useful in his community safety work.

• Entry into Community Safety through Mapping: Chris initially worked for Ordnance Survey, specializing in geographic information systems (GIS) and digital mapping related to archaeology. His GIS experience led him to a role in the police, where he began drawing maps for crime prevention, specifically outlining areas for restricted access.

• National Reassurance Policing Programme: Chris played a pivotal role in the National Reassurance Policing Programme, which laid the groundwork for modern neighbourhood policing. The program focused on understanding community needs, mapping crime and disorder, and addressing signal crimes to enhance community safety.

• Early Work as an Analyst: Chris started as an analyst, initially focusing on signal crimes, and later became a specialist analyst supporting problem-solving processes. This role involved working closely with police teams and utilizing evidence-led and intelligence-led approaches.

• Integration of Neighbourhood Policing and Problem Solving: Chris highlights his involvement in integrating neighbourhood policing and problem-solving methodologies, particularly the SARAH model (Scanning, Analysis, Response, and Assessment of Harassment). This period marked the convergence of community-oriented policing strategies.

• Importance of Evidence-Led and Intelligence-Led Approaches: Chris emphasizes the significance of being evidence-led and intelligence-led in community safety efforts. He advocates for informed interventions supported by evidence, citing the What Works Centre at the College of Police as a positive example.

• Challenges in Policy Making: Chris discusses the challenges of policy-making and the need for policymakers and politicians to base decisions on evidence. He notes the importance of understanding what interventions work and avoiding those that lack evidence, addressing the issue of ignorance in decision-making.

• Effective Offender Management: Chris identifies effective offender management as a key factor in crime reduction. He shares insights from his experience, particularly in integrated offender management programs, where a holistic approach is taken to address the needs of individuals, including domestic abuse offenders and those at risk of radicalization.

• Building Successful Partnerships: Chris discusses the essential elements for building successful partnerships in community safety. He acknowledges the diverse stakeholders involved, ranging from probation officers to community groups, and stresses the need for a multi-agency approach, sharing information, and providing support to individuals at risk.